]]>PokerStars launches another new game. Portugal joins the European player pool on PokerStars. Paddy Power Betfair with a big acquisition in the wake of U.S. Supreme Court decision. Find these stories and more in the Wednesday Hit and Run.

Showtime Hold’em Launches on PokerStars

Split Hold’em has given way to Showtime Hold’em, a form of poker that shows all folded cards to the rest of the table (except in the case of the showdown where the losing player folds). The game is available in the lobby of the PokerStars.com website and is the latest in new game innovations on PokerStars that has included Spin and Go and Power Up Poker.

Besides the obvious major difference in the games, the PokerStars Showtime games run exactly like a standard game of No Limit Hold’em.

Quick Hitters

– PokerStars Portugal has officially joined the PokerStars European player pool that already includes of PokerStars Spain and French players. With the inclusion of Portuguese players, PokerStars becomes the first site to offer a player pool consisting of all three regulated and previously ring-fenced countries. PokerStars is celebrating the news by offering a Trio Series with $5 million in guaranteed tournaments from June 3rd to June 13th.

In addition to the player pool being available to those in the three countries, players outside of the three countries can play on the network as long as they are not from a segregated market or in a restricted country.

– NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has commented on the Supreme Court’s PAPSA decision last week. Goodell has called for “uniform standards” in state regulations and has stated that the league is prepared to address changes in a “thoughtful and comprehensive way” that helps protect consumers.

– In the daily fantasy sports world, Paddy Power Betfair has agreed to purchase FanDuel as the Dublin-based company gears up to offer sports betting ahead of state regulation, which is expected to ramp up in the coming months. Paddy Power Betfair will be purchasing 61% of the brand with $612 million in US assets and $158 in cash.

– After 183 tournaments and $65 million in guaranteed prize pools, the 2018 PokerStars SCOOP has concluded. “Tankanza” won the $10,300 Main Event when he outlasted 654 entries to win a $1,133,160 prize.

– The World Poker Tour season-ending event, the WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic, attracted 162 entries and is now down to a final table. Darren Elias has an impressive lead with 2.3 million chips, ahead of Dietrich Fast with 882k. Also at the final table when action resumed Wednesday are Jonathan Little, Sam Panzica, Kitty Kuo and Joe McKeehen.

Should Elias be able to hold on, it would be his fourth World Poker Tour title. Phil Hellmuth, who recently revealed a heart condition, finished in 8th.

– Fan favorite 2017 WSOP final tablist John Hesp has confirmed that he will be participating in the 2018 WSOP Main Event.

In other WSOP news, US Poker’s Martin Derbyshire has some tongue-in-check predictions for the poker media during the 2018 World Series of Poker.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/pokerstars-showtime-holdem/feed0Hit and Run: Poker Central Announces Live PokerGo WSOP Schedule; WSOP.com Coast to Coast a Successhttp://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-poker-central-announces-live-pokergo-wsop-schedule-wsop-com-coast-to-coast-a-success
http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-poker-central-announces-live-pokergo-wsop-schedule-wsop-com-coast-to-coast-a-success#respondTue, 22 May 2018 22:28:07 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34850PokerGo has announced live streaming coverage for dozens of events during the 2018 WSOP on the poker broadcaster's premium platform.

]]>Poker Central reveals its live streaming schedule for the 2018 WSOP. The newly launched multi-state WSOP.com has a successful first tournament series. Find these stories and more in the Tuesday Hit and Run.

2018 WSOP Streaming Schedule Announced on PokerGo

Poker Central has announced their 2018 WSOP Live Stream schedule on PokerGo, the second year on the premium-based poker streaming platform. From June 2nd to July 17th, PokerGo will feature live action from dozens of events during the series.

In addition to coverage of bracelet events throughout the series, PokerGo will also feature extensive coverage of the WSOP Main Event and Big One for One Drop. This year’s WSOP commentary will be anchored by Ali Nejad, Lon McEachern and a rotating lineup of color commentators, including Norman Chad.

In February, Poker Central and ESPN announced a broadcast schedule on ESPN 2 and and ESPN for the Main Event and Big One for One Drop.

Quick Hitters

– While cash game traffic continues to peak around the 500 real money player mark at the new interstate player pool on WSOP.com, the WSOP.com Coast to Coast Classic has plowed through guaranteed prizes pools. The tournament series, which began on May 11th, promised over $1 million in prize pools through the ten-plus days of the series.

Meanwhile, Online Poker Report says that while multi-state online poker has been a boost for all the affected state, the best is yet to come.

– In case you haven’t noticed, the number of high roller tournament events have gone through the roof in recent years. In recognition of the popularity of these events, Poker Central have revealed a High Roller of the Year Award. The leaderboard will be tabulated starting with the $25,000 ARIA High Roller Series and include events throughout the year including the US Poker Open, Poker Masters and finishing with 2019’s Super High Roller Bowl.

The winner of the reward will not only receive the honor but will also receive rake-free entry into all of the next year’s eligible high roller events.

– High Stakes Database examines the players who have been recorded as losing $10 million or more online.

– New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow says that online poker could become regulated soon in the state. The prospects for sports betting in New York got a shot in the arm with the Supreme Court’s PAPSA decision last week. Pretlow says that online poker could be quick to follow should sports betting get the go-ahead.

– Video blogging continues to be very popular among poker fans. During this year’s World Series of Poker, five popular poker bloggers will be offering extensive WSOP vlog coverage in Las Vegas this summer. US Poker previews the content from Daniel Negreanu, Andrew Neeme, Jeff Gross, Jaime Staples and Doug Polk.

– Two arrests have been made in the shooting of Tom “3betpanda” Steinbach outside of an Austin poker club that occurred on April 30th.

– A two-time European Poker Tour winner and United Kingdom TV presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell have claimed a regulatory victory in the war against fixed odds betting terminals in the United Kingdom.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-poker-central-announces-live-pokergo-wsop-schedule-wsop-com-coast-to-coast-a-success/feed0Arrests Made in Texas Poker Club Shootinghttp://www.parttimepoker.com/arrests-made-poker-club-shooting
http://www.parttimepoker.com/arrests-made-poker-club-shooting#respondTue, 22 May 2018 02:29:14 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34826Austin Police have made two arrests in connection with a poker club shooting and robbery that seriously wounded Tom "3betpanda" Steinbach as he exited the Texas Card House on April 30th.

]]>Two arrests have been made in an Austin poker club shooting and robbery that seriously wounded poker player Tom “3betpanda” Steinbach as he exited the Texas Card House. The shooting occurred during the early morning hours of Monday, April 30th.

Jermaine Patrick Spirlark, age 41, and Charles Clines-Martinez, age 24 have been detained by Austin Police Department officials on suspicion of aggravated robbery, according to a local report from NBC affiliate KXAN-Austin.

Charles Clines-Martinez — Age 24 of San Antonio

A separate report by My San Antonio states that Clines-Martinez was an employee of the Texas Card House in Austin, and helped the alleged shooter Jermaine Spirlark commit the robbery.

Poker Club Shooting Sparks Security Concerns

That new twist in the ongoing poker club shooting investigation sparks a number of concerns related to player security at the live membership establishments that have become a popular destination for patrons in the Lone Star State.

Unlike licensed brick & mortar places of real money wagering in states such as Nevada, the Texas card rooms do not operate with a formal permit or under any regulatory guidelines, other than a controversial argument made by owners that the places of business are legal under Texas law.

You can find out more about the continuing friction between poker club owners and opponents in our Part Time Poker article relating to the Houston Poker Debate.
–
The APD Robbery Unit is continuing its effort to obtain information relating to the shooting, and asks anyone with additional information to contact authorities at 512-974-5092.

Poker player Bill Perkins offered up a $10,000 reward for the apprehension of the shooter earlier this month.

Poker Player Bill Perkins has offered an additional $10k reward for information leading to the apprehension of the suspect wanted for last weeks robbery and shooting outside the Texas Card House. If you have any info call Crime Stoppers 512-472-8477. You will remain anonymous.

]]>In November 2014, popular United Kingdom TV presenter and two-time European Poker Tour champion Victoria Coren Mitchell announced that she was ending her relationship with the world’s largest poker site. The decision came just one day after parent company Amaya Gaming launched casino products on the PokerStars platform — which had previously been a poker-only brand.

“Their news was very sudden, so I didn’t have much time to consider my position, but I knew I had to act quickly before I could think better of it,” Coren posted on her official blog site.

“I cannot professionally and publicly endorse [PokerStars’ launch of casino games], even passively by silence with my name still over the shop. Poker is the game I love, poker is what I signed up to promote.”

Coren’s stance was supported by many veteran online poker players who gained a sincere appreciation for the popular TV host’s principles and defense of real money online poker competition, while shunning the corporation’s decision to stray away from player outreach that led the game’s surge on the internet from 2001 to 2011.

High profile online poker players Isaac Haxton and Alex Millar would eventually walk away from their respective PokerStars sponsorship deals in January 2016, when the publicly-traded company decided to suddenly halt cashback payouts that had been marketed to high volume customers for roughly a decade.

Yet Coren-Mitchell is widely credited by the poker playing community to this day for being the first “Team Pro” to recognize the writing on the wall for The Stars Group‘s shift away from traditional, competitive peer-to-peer poker games and pro-friendly promotions.

Victoria Coren Mitchell and the War Against UK FOBT Machines

Less than four years after ending her PokerStars Team Pro sponsorship, Victoria Coren Mitchell — along with other like-minded gambling industry watchdogs — have claimed a massive regulatory victory in the war against UK Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

Calls for government-backed regulation that would reduce FOBT per-wager amounts from £100 to £2 were answered this past Thursday.

In a decision that William Hill CEO Roger Devlin argues will result in the loss of more than 20,000 land-based jobs, the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has ruled that FOBT machines must be restricted to a maximum wager stake of only £2 every 20 seconds.

The changes are just one element of a far-reaching effort by regulators within the UK to address “social responsibility” and “problem gambling” issues that some believe have resulted in a social blight created by an industry that can be all too eager to cash-in on customers’ vulnerabilities.

“Punters lose and lose and lose. And when they disappear, or kill themselves, or their child is taken into care and they start self-medicating with drugs instead, someone else steps blindly up to feed the monster,” Coren wrote in an August 2017 editorial for The Guardian, adding that FOBT machines are “evil.”

Immediate reaction from Victoria Coren Mitchell’s colleagues at the online newspaper following the UK’s ruling has been supportive of the restrictions while calling on regulators to continue their crackdown on certain gambling industry practices.

The effect of Thursday’s ruling is expected to have an enormous marketplace impact on UK betting shops, and could reshape the gambling industry for years to come.

Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling

The topics of Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling have been hotly debated within the real money wagering world for at least decades, causing a discomforting level of uncertainty among customers and operators alike on where the line must be drawn between personal responsibility and social liability.

The United Kingdom LCCP guidelines are extremely broad, and will likely result in a historic industry shift away from its most profitable practices of enticing recreational gamblers to wager billions per year on FOBTs in exchange for a so-called “entertainment value” that operators claim these machines offer.

To Coren Mitchell’s credit, neither she nor those who share her sentiment regarding UK FOBT machines claim that wagering limits will completely eradicate the negative spending practices of problem gamblers or vulnerable individuals — many of whom may seek out ways to continue feeding their habit (through unregulated FOBT offerings or other gambling mechanisms). The aim of the anti-FOBT machine movement is communicated as a method for curbing, or limiting such behavior, which has become rampant at street corner betting shops in the UK.

The Influence of Victoria Coren Mitchell on Gambling Regulations

The new UK rules are pretty much praised across the board by Victoria Coren Mitchell and her colleagues at The Guardian, who have quickly become one of the most powerful groups of gambling-focused journalists in the world — dwarfing the influence of informed yet niche regulated U.S. iGaming analysts and rivaling the widespread engagement enjoyed by even the most popular American-based poker personalities such as Andrew Neeme, Matt Berkey, Doug Polk and Joey Ingram.

And although the new guidelines cover the United Kingdom gambling market exclusively, a movement to pass similar laws in the U.S. could have a comparable effect on defining the gambling marketplace for years to come. The possibility of statewide government crackdowns for Time on Machine Entertainment devices (and their corresponding software) that are huge money-makers for both live and online North American commercial casinos looms large.

It is also quite possible that William Hill CEO Devlin’s prediction that the company could soon be the object of a corporate takeover becomes reality, and that one potential buyer could be commercial online gambling powerhouse The Stars Group.

The prospect of this eventuality leads to a number of industry and player-interest questions for the $2.4 million USD live poker tournament cash prize winner.

Questions for Victoria Coren Mitchell

What are VCM’s thoughts on PokerStars’ decision to remove high volume “Supernova” and “Supernova Elite” cash payouts for the 2016 calendar year, when those benefits had been clearly marketed and advertised to loyal players from January-thru-October of 2015?

Do VCM and like-minded activists seek to have a similar influence on global gambling industry rules that they have had in the United Kingdom?

Does Victoria Coren Mitchell view poker as a “luck-based game of chance,” or a “skill based” activity that falls outside the traditional definition of gambling?

Does VCM have a financial arrangement with PokerStars or any other gambling company that might require disclosure considering the significant marketplace impact that new UK guidelines will have?

What further measures are necessary in VCM’s opinion to limit problem gambling?

Poker players and industry personnel would be wise, in this author’s opinion, to become more informed on specific stances that Victoria Coren Mitchell takes on gambling regulation, as she could very well become one of the most influential poker personalities in the United Kingdom (if not the world) in very short order.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:The views expressed in this article belong solely to me, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this website, poker players, poker media, or any sector of the gambling industry.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/victoria-coren-mitchell-uk-fobt-machines/feed0Weekend Hit and Run: Koon’s Attack on Triton, the WPT Adds Value, and Sports Betting Feverhttp://www.parttimepoker.com/weekend-hit-and-run-koon-conquers-triton-the-wpt-adds-value
http://www.parttimepoker.com/weekend-hit-and-run-koon-conquers-triton-the-wpt-adds-value#respondSun, 20 May 2018 22:19:32 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34740High stakes pro Jason Koon continues his attack on Triton by winning the final event in the High Roller series. The World Poker Tour looks to entice player participation with a sweetener to their Tournament of Champions. And we've got more and more developments from the sports betting world, and how it effects poker. It's here and much more in the weekend edition of the Hit and Run.

]]>High stakes pro Jason Koon continues his attack on Triton by winning the final event in the High Roller series. The World Poker Tour looks to entice player participation with a sweetener to their Tournament of Champions. And we’ve got more and more developments from the sports betting world and how it effects poker. It’s here and much more in the weekend edition of the Hit and Run.

Koon Wins $3 Million, Ivey Finishes 3rd

For years now, the poker community has been hearing whispers and rumors about the monster games happening in Asia and southern Europe. And this month the world finally got to see some of those games after both the big tournaments and cash games were broadcast and streamed around the world. The 2018 Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro played host to these games, and in the final event Jason Koon walked away with the trophy and the cash when he won the $1,000,000 HKD Short Deck Ante Only Event for $28 million HKD. That’s about $3.5 million in US Dollars in case you were wondering.

A field of 103 entries created a prizepool of almost $100 million HKD, which is um a lot. After an action-packed couple of days, it was fan-favorite Tom Dwan who would eventually fall as the bubble boy when he couldn’t come from behind against Koon. The final table played quickly down to heads-up with Winfred Yu placing 4th for $9.2 million HKD and Phil Ivey placing 3rd for another 13 million HKD. Heads-up was a long hard battle as Koon faced a very tough opponent in Xuan Tan.

Koon was very humble after his victory over Tan saying, “I was playing a player that was much better than I am, at least short-handed, much more experienced, and really talented in cash games. I just coolered him to win the tournament, and I am glad it worked out that way because it could have been a really long night.”

The score is now the largest of Koon’s career and a great start to his summer. Congrats to all the big winners.

The WPT Adds USD to the TOC

-The World Poker Tour re-branded their season-ending tournament a couple of years ago with mixed results. Instead of a $25k Championship, the tour began hosting a Tournament of Champions that only previous winners could play in. The turnout however has been somewhat disappointing with field sizes of only 64 and 66 out of the literal hundreds of winners that the tour has produced.

Well, this season the WPT has sweetened the deal by adding loads of incentives. To start with the WPT is adding $100,000 straight to the prizepool. The tournament is already rake free, so that should provide some added value. In addition, an extra 50k is being added to the first place prize.

Defending WPT Tournament of Champions winner Daniel Weinman

The tournament was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino the first two years after its inception. This year the tournament is going back to where it all started – Las Vegas, although this time at Aria instead of the Bellagio. WPT CEO Adam Pliska had this to say about the upcoming event, “This event would not be possible if it were not for the WPT’s wonderful partners and all of their significant contributions to the Season XVI WPT Tournament of Champions, as they have allowed the WPT to provide incredible value for our loyal players… If we invest in the TOC, every tournament we have gains equity. We will continue to invest in this, and build this up.”

The Tournament of Champions kicks off May 24 in Las Vegas. Fans are welcome to attend.

-The repeal of PASPA has thrown the gambling world into a tizzy with everyone asking when sports betting will come to their state. But more importantly, those people want to know when they can expect online poker to be up and running once again. PartTimePoker’s own David Huber wrote an excellent piece about some hope of online poker coming to New York. In this article, David looks at New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow’s push for online gaming in the state. New York bill A 5250 would carve out a special nitch for poker and not have it labeled as gambling. Pennsylvania was a tremendous gain for online poker supporters. Could New York be next?

-You want more Triton High Roller Series action? OK, you got it. Pokernews was able to piece together some of the best clips from the two week series. Enjoy.

– And finally, while the Las Vegas Golden Knights don’t have too much to do with poker, the whole city has seemed to embrace them on their run at the Stanley Cup. So with that in mind, let’s leave you this tweet, which is pretty strong.

ON THIS DATE IN GOLDEN KNIGHTS HISTORY

…..

Actually, not much happened. We didn't have a team yet. Probably just had some meetings

Keith Woernle is a writer, comedian, and semi-pro poker player based out of New Jersey. He was a producer for season 10 of the World Poker Tour. Keith won a WSOP circuit ring in 2011. He likes poker a lot. Follow or contact him on Twitter @WoernlePoker.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/weekend-hit-and-run-koon-conquers-triton-the-wpt-adds-value/feed0NY Assemblyman Gary Pretlow Wants Online Poker Bill Passed Next Monthhttp://www.parttimepoker.com/gary-pretlow-ny-online-poker
http://www.parttimepoker.com/gary-pretlow-ny-online-poker#respondSun, 20 May 2018 04:39:30 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34704New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow has upped the ante for NY online poker bill A 5250, which the state lawmaker believes will pass if it makes it to the Assembly floor.

]]>New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D – Mount Vernon, Yonkers) is renewing calls for the passage of New York A 5250. a legislative proposal that would formally legalize and regulate online poker in the Empire State.

In an exclusive interview this week with Online Poker Report contributor Matthew Kredell, the NY Committee on Racing and Wagering Chairman said that convincing Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to bring A 5250 to a floor vote is “all that’s needed,” adding that he will “debate it and get it passed.”

The renewed push for online poker in New York comes just two months after Gary Pretlow circulated a letter urging fellow Assembly Members to assist with getting the legislation to the Assembly floor.

New York Online Poker Gaining Momentum in 2018?

Last month, state lawmaker Clyde Vanel also granted an interview to OPR’s Los Angeles-based writer Kredell — stating that online poker has a “good shot” at becoming law in 2018.

The bill — which is similar in nature to S 3898, would authorize the sale of up to 11 licenses to New York land-based casinos, that could then offer real money games to adults age 21 and over who are physically located within the state’s borders.

The proposed measure would also exempt poker from being designated as a game of chance, while allowing regulators to consider whether the game “falls outside the general definition of gambling.”

If A 5250 is enacted into law, New York would become only the fifth U.S. jurisdiction to legalize real money online poker games (New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania).

Assemblyman Gary Pretlow & Online Poker Activism

The sudden wave of interest in passing online poker legislation in the Empire State would seem to stem from New York’s budgetary deficit, which eclipsed $4 billion leading up to this year’s state budget approval.

The 2018/2019 calendar years could therefore mark a shift in popularity among lawmakers for passing online gambling bills that include poker, although significant roadblocks remain in all but a handful of states.

Poker players and fans who reside in the state of New York are urged to reach out to their local policymakers to further communicate why online poker should be authorized for real money play. This can be done through an organization such as the Poker Players Alliance, or by directly consulting this NY State Assembly Members List.

Regulated New York Online Poker Could Prompt More States to Act

New York is the third most populous state in the U.S. (behind California and Texas) with roughly 20 million residents. It is widely believed that formal passage of NY online poker legislation might prompt more states to follow suit, while also affording the Empire State an opportunity to join an existing tri-state shared online poker player pool that could soon include Pennsylvania.

However, there are still many issues — such as pushback from tribal gaming interests and the horse racing industry, along with voter referendum mandates — that might hinder online poker regulation in a number of key states.

In California, lawmakers have struggled for more than a decade to bring real money internet games to citizens. CA’s most recent statewide efforts in 2016 caused a firestorm of eleventh-hour controversy as “bad actor” language that would prevent the world’s largest poker site from entering the market resulted in heated emotions from both sides of the debate.

In Texas, municipal and statewide lawmakers are currently debating the legality of brick & mortar poker clubs that have become popular in areas such as Houston and Austin, although a formal legislative proposal for online poker has yet to make its way to the Lone Star State legislature.

Should Poker Be Exempt from Being Defined as Gambling?

Although many poker players and media members alike may believe that some “middle ground” would be the most appropriate way to define the balance of skill and luck that poker offers, statewide lawmakers may not have the years of experience competing in the game for real money that would be necessary to effectively communicate such a nuanced policy within a legislative measure.

At this time, it appears that proposed bills will either lump poker into a general “gambling” category that includes casino slots and house-edge table games, or stipulate that poker is a “skill-based,” “non-gambling” activity that would in turn facilitate real money games without the legal headaches attached to traditional gambling verticals such as slot machines, blackjack, craps, etc.

This workaround has been a key element for allowing regulated Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests to exist in a number of states. Sports betting along with poker could also eventually benefit from staying outside the legal definition of gambling in as many statewide jurisdictions as are feasible.

Efforts by Gary Pretlow to Regulate NY Online Poker Are Appreciated

In summary, the recent pro-online poker stance communicated by NY Assemblymen Gary Pretlow and Clyde Vanel are much appreciated by poker players and regulated iGaming media outlets who have endured seven frustrating years of legislative impasse following Black Friday.

Part Time Poker will continue to inform our readers on the latest events surrounding NY online poker legislation, and we invite those interested in learning more about statewide gaming legislation to consult the following articles.

]]>Thomas Keeling (known by most of the poker world as “SrslySirius”) appeared on the Poker Life Podcast with Joey Ingram recently. The duo discussed dozens of topics that are currently at the forefront of both the community and industry.

For more than a decade, Thomas has entertained fans with his witty videos and comic relief, but has risen even more in popularity since joining forces with three-time WSOP bracelet winner and Upswing Poker co-founder Doug Polk.

Keeling — who has formed part of the community for more than a decade — currently collaborates with a number of poker companies such as Poker Night in America and PocketFives, and also co-writes a lot of material for the DougPolkPoker YouTube channel.

Thomas’ love for poker is obvious after watching the two-hour conversation he had with Joey. Following are highlights from the May 2018 show.

Thomas Keeling – Poker Life Podcast Recap

Week 1 YouTube Ratings: 5,743 Views – 132 Likes, 14 Dislikes

Thomas Keeling Says Poker is in a “Good Spot”

Despite the hard times that the game of poker has fallen on in recent years (especially internet poker), Keeling is of the opinion that poker is in a “good spot.”

Dozens of entertaining personalities such as Andrew Neeme, Brad Owen, The Poker Guys have earned niche audiences in recent years through their top-notch material and social media outreach — which has made the game more accessible to casual fans.

Live poker is actually booming in several parts of the United States, with the 2018 World Series of Poker just days away. Pennsylvania will also become the fourth state to offer real money online poker soon, which could further increase the game’s market penetration in the northeastern U.S.

Thomas Keeling – The “Golden Age” of Poker Media is Here

High profile poker personalities such as Joey Ingram and Doug Polk have led the way for a more “independent” poker media since 2015, when the world’s largest poker site decided to wage war on a large number of its customers.

No longer the darling of the online poker world, PokerStars has had to contend with not only the ramifications of its own decision making (such as refusing to pay out cash benefits to its high volume players), but also a surge in marketplace competition from the likes of partypoker and WSOP.com.

Bolstered by the signing of stars such as Isaac Haxton and Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, partypoker has gained significant market share as veteran players and media members alike have balked at Stars’ philosophy of doing everything in its power to make for-profit poker players feel unwelcome.

Players have become bolder in defending their livelihood in recent years as the industry has shifted investment from poker to other verticals such as casino and sports betting, which is a positive for consumer interests who benefit from information that’s communicated with more focus than ever before.

Thomas Keeling Wants Joey and Doug to “Go Mainstream”

One of the most interesting segments of the May 2018 Poker Life Podcast episode was when Joey and Thomas discussed the possibility of “going mainstream.”

While poker along with other gambling activities have generally been ignored by major media outlets due to the stigma attached to real money wagering, that could soon change now that states can formally legalize sports betting.

Having big-name personalities reach out to mainstream outlets could provide a huge boost for the game, especially given the expert insight that these poker players provide. Such exposure would also assist players with “getting their message out” while informing casual fans about the competitive, peer-to-peer card game that captured the imagination of thousands of young players between 2003-2011.

We invite our readers to check out the latest Poker Life Podcast episode featuring “SrslySirius” Thomas Keeling, along with the following shows that we’ve covered here at Part Time Poker.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/thomas-keeling-poker-life-podcast-recap/feed0Hit and Run: New Jersey Likely to Go Live With Sports Betting by Mid June; Huge Prize Pools in Triton Short Deck Gameshttp://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-run-new-jersey-likely-go-live-sports-betting-mid-june-huge-prize-pools-triton-short-deck-games
http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-run-new-jersey-likely-go-live-sports-betting-mid-june-huge-prize-pools-triton-short-deck-games#respondFri, 18 May 2018 20:20:34 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34688New Jersey will likely become the 1st state to bring sports betting to their state after the Supreme Court's PAPSA ruling on Monday.

]]>New Jersey is setting up to be the first state to offer sports betting after the Supreme Court’s PAPSA decision. Triton HKD $1 Million Short Deck tournament draws big names. Find these stories and more in the Friday Hit and Run.

Sports Betting to New Jersey Within a Month

With a favorable sportsbook ruling in the Supreme Court, some states will be moving quickly to bring sports betting to their jurisdictions. The first state is likely to go live is New Jersey, which has challenged PAPSA over the last 7 years.

The state now says that is hopes to launch sports betting in the state sometime by the middle of June, with a vote scheduled for June 7th to address the taxes.

With no legal obstacles in their way, Delaware also could be quick to the punch, which could meet or beat the New Jersey timeline.

Quick Hitters

– At the HKD $1 million short deck game at the Triton Super High Roller Series, 13 out of 50 players remain including some big names — Phil Ivey, Jason Koon and Dan Cates. A winner will be determined on Friday night. (Poker News)

– Viktor “Isildur1” Bloom took down the $2,100 SCOOP HORSE event to win a $59,780 prize. The victory was his 4th SCOOP title of his career and his first since 2013.

– The HKD $1 million buy-in cash game at the 2018 Triton Super High Roller Series continues to draw headlines. Watch the hand below, which saw set versus set with Paul Phua and Elton Tsang.

The previous day saw what is believed to be the largest televised pot ever. Watch Sir Doug Polk break down the action in the hand below:

– Poker Strategy’s Barry Carter takes an in-depth look at why the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer in poker.” (Poker Strategy)

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-run-new-jersey-likely-go-live-sports-betting-mid-june-huge-prize-pools-triton-short-deck-games/feed0Hit and Run: The Largest Ever Televised Cash Game Pot?; Mikita Badziakouski Wins $2.5 Million at 2018 Triton Super High Rollerhttp://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-the-largest-ever-televised-cash-game-pot-mikita-badziakouski-wins-2-5-million-at-2018-triton-super-high-roller
http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-the-largest-ever-televised-cash-game-pot-mikita-badziakouski-wins-2-5-million-at-2018-triton-super-high-roller#respondThu, 17 May 2018 21:32:23 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34682Last night saw what is believed to be the largest televised cash game pot in poker history, a €1.8 million pot during a Triton Poker High Roller Series in Montenegro.

]]>An epically large pot at the Triton Poker High Roller Series cash game while tournament prize pools at Triton Poker High Roller series reach new heights. Find these stories and more in the Thursday Hit and Run.

€1.8 Million Pot During Triton Poker Series Cash Game

A pot that was possibly the largest in televised poker history occurred last night during a cash game at the Triton Poker High Roller Series in Montenegro. The cash game featured a €1 million buy-in with €2000/€4000 stakes and attracted some huge names including Patrick Antonius, Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey. But it wasn’t who played that attracted the attention of the poker world; Instead, it was one of the largest, if not the largest, pot ever from a televised game.

Meanwhile, in tournament action at the Triton Super High Roller Series Mikita Badziakouski won over $2.5 million after outlasting 63 entries in the HKD $1 million ($127k) buy-in event. In another HKD $1,000,000 event, the Short Deck Ante-Only game, Dan Cates, Jason Koon, Phil Ivey and Devan Tang are vying for a piece of the large prize pool.

Quick Hitters

– The World Poker Tour has announced two Asian events for 2018 with stops in Japan and Korea. WPT Japan will take place from September 15th to September 17th while WPT Korea will be held from September 19th to 21st.

The main tour will give way to the WSOP and resume on August 4th with WPT Choctaw.

Before that, the World Poker Tour will host an event at the eSports Arena at the Luxor from May 25th to May 28th when venue holds the $25,000 buy-in WPT Bellagio High Roller Final Table.

– The New Jersey poker market falls 9.5% in April compared to the same time last year.

– When Pennsylvania’s online casinos finally launch, they will face a variety of obstacles, which Online Poker Report’s Steve Ruddock outlines in a report.

– From the Fake News Bin: Experts predict losing poker player is about to become losing sports bettor. Full report here.

]]>http://www.parttimepoker.com/hit-and-run-the-largest-ever-televised-cash-game-pot-mikita-badziakouski-wins-2-5-million-at-2018-triton-super-high-roller/feed0Hit and Run: PokerStars Removes Split Hold’em; Reaction from Players and Leagues to SCOTUS PAPSA Decisionhttp://www.parttimepoker.com/pokerstars-showtime-could-replace-split-holdem
http://www.parttimepoker.com/pokerstars-showtime-could-replace-split-holdem#respondWed, 16 May 2018 22:15:26 +0000http://www.parttimepoker.com/?p=34676PokerStars Split Hold'em was removed from the client on Monday after a 6-week trial period. Showtime, another new game, could be tested within weeks.

]]>PokerStars looks to ax a new game while teasing new games. PAPSA reaction comes in from all angles. Check out these stories and more in the Wednesday Hit and Run.

PokerStars Ditches Split Hold’em

It was good while it lasted but PokerStars Split Hold’em was removed from the PokerStars lobby on Monday. The game had been in a trial stage for six weeks but apparently did not catch on with players.

Poker Industry Pro suggests that a number of new variants may be in the pipeline including Showtime, PokerStars Fusion and Spin & Goal. Nick Jones from PIP says Showtime could debut after the SCOOP.

As we anticipated, Split Hold'em was removed from the PokerStars lobby yesterday after its limited six-week run, and it was not immediately replace with something new. Give it 10 days and let the SCOOP dust settle, and I think we'll see Showtime debut. https://t.co/MRFzV9O9R3pic.twitter.com/5EiXGsS1Tc

Sports and Gambling World React to SCOTUS Supreme Court Decision

Reaction continues to pour in after the Supreme Court’s PAPSA decision on Monday. Each of the sports leagues has commented on the decision and don’t appear to be setting themselves up to fight the decision, instead emphasizing fair play and keeping the integrity of the game alive.

Among the professional poker player reactions getting attention was a Phil Hellmuth comment implying that sports betting had been legalized (state action is still needed for sports betting to be legal in a given state).

Mark Cuban weighed in by saying that online poker could boom again thanks to the ruling.

From the Fake News Bin: offshore sportsbooks looking for new markets in unexpected places in the wake of the Supreme Court PAPSA ruling.

– In an interview with Poker Strategy, Chris Moneymaker reveals how he has learned some pointers from 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event winner Joe McKeehen.

– The new podcast you didn’t think you needed – Mike Matusow has revealed that he will be starting a podcast any day that will coincide with the 2018 WSOP.

– In Joey Ingram’s lastest vlog on the Poker Life Podcast, he speaks with somebody you may not know from the tables but instead somebody whose work you have definitely seen. Watch a two hour sit-down with video editor Thomas Keeling known in some parts as SrslySirius.

– Part Time Poker’s David Huber with a piece on how Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals will be restricted to betting limits of 2 after a UK government crackdown.